A/N: Sorry for the delay! Class is difficult but is wrapping up, finally. Come mid- December, I will be homework free for awhile. Thanks for bearing with me, everyone!
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Chapter 18--Juggling
A hand skimmed over his hip slowly, provocatively, and Harry laid still enjoying the silence the permeated the house and the warm body behind him.
"Time to get up."
Her hand lingered on his thigh and he reflexively pushed back into Hermione's hips.
"No." Harry sighed, reaching for her hand and bringing it to his lips. They hadn't any downtime all of Sunday, which was full of meetings, plans and talks with the Auror group. And now Monday morning hit and he was due to fight Hermione in their training class, something he didn't want to do for fear of hurting her. Or, only under admission of Veritaserum, fear of her hurting him.
"Yes, I'm afraid it is. We'll get up, get everyone ready, go to work, do what we need to, trust John, Isabel and Franco to have everything under control then we're going to come home, play with our children, put them to bed then have some "us" time," Hermione snuggled against his back and pressed a kiss to the back of his neck.
"Does this "us" time include talking?" Harry asked sleepily, but smiled against the back of her hand.
"Yes, we still need to talk. But, I'm sure we can fit a few other things in there," Hermione teased kissing his neck one last time then pulling away leaving him cool under the covers.
As if on cue, Ben came bounding into the room throwing himself in Hermione's arms for his good morning hug and kiss. Seconds later, she set him on the bed and Harry prepared himself for a few moments of rough housing.
"Harry!" Ben demanded tapping Harry's face, not to lightly.
"Ben. Have a good sleep?"
"Yes!" he bounced up and down on Harry's stomach then dissolved into fits of laughter as Harry tickled him.
Their morning went as Hermione planned and by 9am, they were settled into their office ignoring the portraits outside in the hall.
"So, they left already?" Harry asked after putting up a silencing charm around their office.
"Yes. The first four left. Isabel fits in as a 7th year transfer student. John is a substitute professor in Charms. Franco and Belinda are stationed downtown as we planned. The others are scattered throughout the country in those hot spots we talked about. If anyone is going to kidnap McGonagall and manages to get her OUT of the castle, every spot that Malfoy thought they'd go is covered. We even have an Auror watching Grimmauld."
"What about the portraits?" Harry glanced at the closed office door.
"Well keep on acting normal like nothing has happened. They don't know we had that meeting since they were at the shop all weekend checking out the new toys George made."
"You really think George is okay with us telling him to stay at the shop?"
"I think you found the right way to control him a bit, by reminding him of his impending fatherhood. I also think he feels he owes us one since he wasn't too vigilant in looking into who made those portraits."
Harry nodded, sadness tingeing the edges of his heart.
After their meeting with Malfoy Harry and Hermione found out that the grand plan was something they had never dreamed could happen.
The person George had asked to paint the portraits was someone who had moved in across the street from "Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes" and offered him a discount on paintings if he could get a few things "at cost" from George. Being frugal, he took the man on his word and had Ginny and Ron painted. Unbeknownst to George, the man was part of this Shadow group and had charmed the people in the paintings to come back to him at the end of the day and report what was going at the Ministry (and anywhere else they could get in). Luckily, they weren't able to visit Hogwarts, which was a small blessing since Harry and Hermione needed to post Aurors there to protect McGonagall.
After they had digested that piece of surprising and upsetting news, Malfoy went on to say the plan was to kidnap McGonagall, knowing Harry couldn't just hide in the shadows and let that happen. Once Harry was out in the open, they'd lead him on a chase around Great Britain and hope to capture him as well. Knowing Hermione would most likely follow Harry, the group planned on killing all three, then staking Draco as the head Auror.
Years down the road, when Janie Potter enrolled into Hogwarts (probably being brought up by a Weasley), she would be watched closely and if she was deemed as powerful as her father and mother, she would be taken and trained in the ways of the Dark Arts.
"I actually had no desire to take over the department and told this person those same words. They didn't like that answer so I kept my mouth shut after threats were made against my son," Draco had admitted tiredly at the end of their talk on Saturday. "What was I to do? I didn't agree to anything after that, but I didn't disagree either. I seriously doubt they could pull all this off, but you never know with this group."
"I wonder if Malfoy is at work like normal this morning?" Hermione wondered aloud as she gathered up her bag in preparation for their training-fight.
"I'm sure we would've heard if something went wrong," Harry answered, stepping out into the hall with her both flinching slightly as they saw familiar red heads in the frames. They managed a bit of idle chit chat with Ron and Ginny, telling them about their training against each other. It was uncomfortable for Harry, knowing that these two were betraying them but not being able to distinguish between right and wrong. He had to make sure he acted normally or Ginny may pick up on his briskness and report back to the Painting Shop about his change in demeanor.
"This is going to be hard," Hermione whispered as they stood shoulder to shoulder in the elevator.
"You're going to kick my arse."
"Not that, Harry; keeping up the front with Ron and Ginny. And, you're right. I will kick your arse."
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Harry had never sweat so much in his life; and had never been so turned on by Hermione wearing a very sweaty white t-shirt and tight gray sweatpants. It took every ounce of energy he had to concentrate on their last ten minutes of stalking each other, jumping away from a leg or arm that reached out, only to connect a second later in a move that would send one of them sprawling---only to jump right back up and continue moving around. Constantly moving was the only way Harry could figure to keep certain parts of his body under control.
`Keep moving. Don't take your eyes off her face,' was the mantra he repeated to himself over and over.
Ten minutes after they had finished and Harry officially passed, though not sure if he had beaten Hermione or not, he found himself trying to cool down in the shower. The cool water helped just enough so he could settle into his jeans but the image of Hermione and her very clingy shirt kept entering his mind.
Grabbing a sandwich on the way back to the office he decided to work through lunch, hoping Hermione was actually sitting somewhere else so he could cool down. For some reason, her touch had burned through him like it never had before. Even a kick or punch to his arm felt more erotic than painful. Her eyes had a fire in them as they sparred back and forth; he tried to follow her advice of concentrating on the "enemy" even though she definitely wasn't one. He wondered if her tight shirt and pants were tactics she used consistently; to try and get the males distracted enough to make a mistake.
Hermione had the same idea he had and was sitting down at her desk with a salad. Despite being female, she took the quickest showers of anyone Harry had ever known or heard about. Ginny had often marveled at how Hermione could be in and out in five minutes, where she would take three times that long.
"Nice job, Harry," Hermione looked up and smiled at him prompting him to slide quite quickly into his chair. Thoughts of what he'd like to do that night ran through his head, overshadowing the more serious issue at hand…Malfoy.
Hermione said something unintelligible to his ears. He wasn't sure if he had heard her since he had been thinking about something entirely different from work, or if she had truly said something important. He caught the last word and took a chance on responding.
"He thinks he's being followed, but not by one of us?" Harry had to ask her to repeat the question, trying to direct his mind and thoughts to the task at hand.
"Yes, Harry. I said that already. I think I should go take a stroll around Diagon Alley and see what is going on."
"No, I'll go. They may be more likely to come out of the shadows if they see me." Harry quickly inhaled his sandwich, grateful for something that would get him up and moving keeping his mind off Hermione for the moment.
"That's true," she agreed slowly, looking slightly peeved that she wasn't going to be the one wandering around time. "Well, you may as well look like you are really doing some errands, so here's a list of some things we need back home." Hermione handed him the parchment and his fingers brushed hers for a moment. Her head snapped up from her salad and she stared at him, bringing her fingers to her cheek.
"What?"
"Nothing," she said quickly and dipped her head back to her salad.
"Okay, if you say so," Harry glanced at the list and saw a few human food items, some quills, papers, a book and treats/food for Fish, Janie's owl.
"Maybe you can see if they have something Ben would like. It may be time he has a pet," Hermione murmured not looking up from her lunch.
"I can do that. I'll be back," Harry smiled and slipped out of the office making his way to the fireplace where he could floo over to Diagon Alley.
Harry figured he better get what was on the list first before he "window shopped" and checked on Draco, who had an office along the sidewalk of the main thoroughfare of the Alley. It only took him twenty minutes to finish getting the items Hermione had laid out for him and he narrowed down a pet for Ben to an owl or a cat. He felt strange buying something so important for Ben without having his mother give her input so Harry figured they could come down tomorrow with everyone.
He walked out of the pet shop and made his way slowly down the street keeping a sharp eye out for anything that looked strange. Walking right by Draco's office, he could see him sitting at his desk writing something on a large piece of parchment. Draco and Harry's eyes only met for a split second; the only acknowledgement they could give each other. If either one of them was being followed it would be noticed if they paid any attention at all to each other.
Harry ambled slowly down the sidewalk, deep in thought about what he was going to say to Hermione regarding the healer. He swept his eyes back and forth across the street only seeing the regular lunch time crowds. But, unavoidably, the wheels turned in the back of his head about the situation Draco had brought to light.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw a flash of light, coming from a store, making him stop in mid-stride. About shoulder height was a small window with a display of jewelry that beckoned him to move closer. In the upper right corner he saw what had caught his attention among the display of gaudy necklaces on down to delicate rings.
He had no idea how long he stood there staring at the silver colored, diamond ring in the back row and was only jerked out of his trance when a familiar voice called his name. Harry jumped, feeling guilty for not paying attention to his surroundings.
"Charles! You're back. How're you?" Harry shook Charles's hand and was rewarded with a smile.
"Suffering jet lag I think. I just got in last night, earlier than expected, and was on my way to meet Hannah for lunch. How're you?" Charles asked this question as his eyes flickered to the window of jewelry and a small smile touched his lips.
"Buying something for Hermione?"
"Umm, no idea. I just stopped to look," Harry mumbled switching his bag of items from one hand to another.
"I have a lot of sisters and if there is one piece of advice I can give you on jewelry is to remember what they usually wear. Don't buy them something that you have never seen them in because they probably won't wear it. Unless, you are thinking of a certain kind of ring…," Charles cocked an eyebrow and Harry looked away, idly watching a group of wizards cross the street but wondering if Charles had known which piece of jewelry he had been admiring for Hermione. He hadn't planned this stop at all and as he has stared at the ring it seemed to call out to him and beg to be put on Hermione's finger.
"I bought my sister a necklace from here and she loved it. He's a great jeweler--in case you were wondering."
"Thanks. So, did you find out if you're related to Hermione yet?" Harry asked changing the subject quickly. Charles nodded, leaning against the other side of the window where Harry was in the same pose.
"I just sent Hermione an owl which she probably has by now. Her parents are going to call her, they said, but it looks as if I am her cousin. We were talking about having a dinner together and figuring out who we should tell. Is there a weekend that works for you?"
"Umm, well…let me ask Hermione. We are really busy and may have to work one or two weekends. I'll have her owl you back." Harry moved and saw the ring flash at him again. Charles glanced down at his Muggle watch then pushed himself off the store wall.
"Well, I better go meet Hannah." He shook Harry's hand then lowered his voice and leaned in a bit.
"Get the ring Harry. Doesn't mean you have to give it to her now, but I can see it's on your mind."
Harry had no idea what he said as a goodbye over the roar of blood in his ears. His heart was beating double time at the thought of making such a huge purchase with no more than a few minutes of staring. Harry turned and walked a few steps intent on getting something to drink but found that the simple silver ring was still on his mind. Sighing he turned around and walked right into the shop, still planning on only looking.
A half hour later after performing a simple memory charm on the clerk, Harry walked out with the ring in his pocket.
"Hope she likes the necklace Mr. Potter. Your secret is safe with me!" the old man called out as Harry let the door swing shut.
In the midst of everything…his life being threatened, protecting Draco, starting a new job, dealing with the almost terrible twos of Janie and Ben…he had just bought an engagement ring for Hermione. He had just spent more money on that piece of jewelry than on anything he owned. Considering he had inherited Grimmauld and his godfather's items he hadn't had to buy much. His broom may just well be the next most expensive item he owned.
But, as he walked back to the fireplace, in the store up the street, he felt the uncertainty diffuse to a warm glow, settling within his heart. He had made a decision, an unusually hasty one, but one that felt totally right.
Now, would his purchase be talked about, or even shown, when Hermione wanted to talk that night?
Nerves replaced the warm feeling right away at the thought of marrying someone else and suddenly have another child that was fully in his care. He took a few deep breaths, feeling his thoughts getting ahead of the situation he was currently in, and forced himself to slow down his pace a bit as he approached Draco's office.
Glancing to his right, Harry could see Draco was talking to a man and woman who were sitting next to a child. Somehow, Draco was managing to move on with his Quidditch School and seemed safe for the moment. Harry hadn't noticed anything out of the ordinary or any suspect characters milling around, so he was able to return to the Ministry and write Hermione (who was "out", according to the secretary) a very boring note about his day.
Twenty minutes was as long as Harry lasted sitting at his desk, not liking the idea of having an expensive piece of jewelry sitting at work, he signed a few papers that had to go out to the team and then floo'd home to hide his gift and drop off the items on Hermione's list.
He wasn't prepared to run into Hermione at home, who had just sent an owl back to Charles. The moment she turned around from releasing Fish out the window, Harry knew what he was going to say when they had their talk that evening. The look of unguarded surprise, then the happy smile that she gave him when he walked into the kitchen cemented the fact that he was truly, unequivocally in love with her.
Managing to hide the small box inside his clock pocket he carefully set down the bag of items, placed his cloak over the chair then walked the few steps to where Hermione was standing, holding out Charles' letter for him to read.
He took it, set it down on the table and pulled Hermione into his arms, and kissed her like he had wanted to early that morning.
(to be continued…hehe)
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